The Fajr Libya, or Libya Dawn, coalition's announcement was televised Saturday on An-Nabaa's channel, a news organization believed to be in close communication with the militant group. The statement read that Fajr Libya now "totally controls Tripoli international airport."

Since the fall of long-time Libyan dictator Moammer Gaddafi in 2011, pro-nationalist militia groups have controlled the pivotal location, which was forced to shut down on July 13 when bloody battles broke[4] out between rival militias.

Violence in Tripoli and Benghazi has plagued Libyan citizens for the last several months, prompting the prolonged closure of the airport, flight cancellations from neighboring countries and a desperate request for foreign aid [5]by the country's fledgling Parliament.